Combination ice-box and water cooler



June 30, 1931. s. w. FRECHOU COMBINATION ICE BOX AND WATERCOOLER Filed Sept. 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l unmlll June 30, 1931.

s. w. FRECHOU 1,812,777

COMBINATION ICE BOX AND WATER COOLER Filed sept. 27. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 30, 1931 t N-II'TED- STATES PATENT OFFICE it sinner wrrwonoo, on NEW earners, LOUISIANA "oommarxon iCE-IBOX w WATER oooLna Application 'filed' September 27, 19301 Serial "No. 484,89

stufis may be keptionhand in a cold condition. a

Another'object ofthe invention is to provide an improved combination ice-box and water'cooler, in which the ice will maintain the refrigerator 'anditsoontentsat the requisite low degree of temperature, and at the same time,'maintain the drinking water in a cool condition. V V V f Aifurther object of the invention is tov provide a simple and rugged form of construction combining both an ice chest and :water cooler, in which appropriate drains and other features are provided.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, theiinvention'will be more fully described hereinafter, and'will be more particularly pointed out inthe claims appended In the draWingaEWherein like symbols rcifer to like oncorresponding parts throughout theseveral views," V

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of an automobileyshown associated with .a combination lice-box and water cooler constructed llllrflGCOI'dfi-HGQ With the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryperspective view, with-parts shown :in section, showing theiinteriorof the improved device.

V Figure 3 is a cross section taken alongthe line 3-3 in Figure 4.

Figure t is a top plan view of the improved device with the cover removed, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the complete unit in readiness for installation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, designates an external chest or box,

' preferably made from cypress wood or some other material combining strength and insulating properties. This chest or box is closed as to its bottom, sides and ends, and is open at its upper portion, where it is preferably provided with a flanged or rabbeted edge -1 1- to receive vthereon the similarly formedcover 12, which cover may behinged or otherwiseaprovided upon the external receptacle and be furnished with claspsor ap propriate fastenings 123, much afterthe fashion of an automobile trunk. The container -:10:may also be provided w'ithside' handles-14 which will also give the devicethe appearance of atrunk and be additionallyuseful'for 'liftingthe device as a unit-0n and off the vehicle.

The device isiso, constructed ,thatit may be placed uponthe trunk rack 15 of the automobile 16, indicated in'Figure 1.

1 Within the container 10 there is preferably alining 'l70f some insulating material, for instance, cork, and Withinthe cork is carried --a :double walled receptacle 1.8, which comprises the compartment 'forthe water. This -water chamber 18 isalso made in the shape of a receptacle having a bottom, sides and endsgall of which are of double spaced walls containinginteriorly within a water space o'f requisite capacity, in'which the" cooling water is contained the waterbeing filledathrough a filling opening 19, which may be closed by ,a screw orother cap.

The end walls of the water receptaclej 18 are; preferably provided with handles 208to enable the water receptacle to be-lifted in and out ,ofjitsposition within the cork lining 17. 'The lower base wall 21 is preferably in- -elined an oppositedirectionsdown to a central low point for facilitatingrdrainage. At

or near and preferably justgabove, this low 'pointgsoas to avoid the entranceof scumor dregs, is located the outlet-faucet 221which may comprise a spring closed valve of the push; button type, or any other desired valve which; will preferably close automatically so as-to avoid dripping and loss of the water.

This faucet 22, as shown in Figure 3, extends freely through the front wall of the external receptacle 10 and is threaded into the adjacent o uter wall of the water cooler 17, The

faucet 22 may be disen-gaged from the water cooler by unscrewing the same, and after- Wands pulling the faucet out through the cork lining,andythroughgthe front wall of the outercontainer.

A drain pipe [is indicated at .24, which ex tends through the bottom of the external container, through the base of the cork installation 17 and upwardly through both spaced bottom walls of the water container 18. The upper end portion of the drain pipe 24 is threaded, as indicated 25, and is engaged threadedly with a washer 26 reposing on the upper surface of the upper wall of the bottom portion of the water cooler.

The drain pipe 24 is soldered or welded to both upper and lower bottom walls 21 and 28 of the water receptacle in order to avoid leakage, and the elbow 24 is threaded onto the lower end of the pipe 24 and may be unscrewed when desired.

The upper extremity 27, which constitutes the overflow opening, is spaced above the wall 28, so as to provide a shallow pool of water in the ice compartment which is con tained within the receptacle-like water container 18. The lower end of the drain pipe 24 is preferably curled upwardly, as indicated in Figure 3.

There is also preferably a drain opening 29 for the internal space of the water cooler, and this drain opening 29 extends up through the bottom of the outer container 10, through the cork installation, and as indicated at 30, is threaded into a threaded boss in the lower inclined bottom wall 21 of the water cooler. This drain pipe 29 is provided with a valve A 31 which is normally closed, but may be opened at times when the receptacle is to be cleaned, and all the dregs and foreign matter removed.

A block of ice is indicated at 32 within the ice and refrigerant compartment of the device. This ice preferably rests upon a latticed mat or support 33 made of wood slats or other material which is placed within the ice compartment and rests upon the bottom Wall 28. The cross slats of the lattice are spaced so that they receive the end 27 of the drain 24 therebetween.

Side and end plates 34 and 35 are placed in the receptacle. These plates preferably have inclined edges and the lower ends thereof are preferably loosely fitted into the angle portions between the bottom, side and end walls of the water cooler 18, the upper portions of the plates resting against the block or cake of ice 32.

Between these plates 34 and 35 and the side and end walls of the water receptacle, additional ice may be placed to cause the direct refrigeration of the water.

In operation, the device may be carried on a vehicle, as indicatedin Figure 1, and whenever drinking water is required, a glass or cup, which may be contained in the vehicle or within the ice box, is inserted beneath the faucet 22, and such faucet operated to discharge the cooled water into such glass or cup. This had to the ice and to any bottled goods, or other provisions which may be kept in this compartment directly upon the ice or adjacent thereto in such quantities as may be found necessary or desirable at picnics or for travelling.

The device is easily accessible both for drinking water and to the interior of the ice compartment. The drain 24 and its curved trap maintain suflicient of the melted water from the ice in the lower portion of the ice compartment. This cold pool of ice will tend to absorb heat from the water in the water compartment 18, and thus serve to cool this water, and it will also assist in preventing the rapid melting of the ice. This pool of water will overflow through the drain 24, and the water will escape and drop upon the ground. If desired, the water cooler 18 may be removed from the external container 10 and the cork lining by first unscrewing the faucet 22 and drains 24 and 29 and withdrawing the same from the receptacle and container.

The handles 20 will form convenient means for lifting out the water receptacle and with it all of the provisions.

It will be obvious that various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts could be made, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details, except as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a combination ice-box and water cooler, an outer container, an inner receptacle for water having an ice compartment, and demountable folding plates or leaves mounted in said compartment and adapted to rest upon the ice block therein.

2. In a combination ice-box and water cooler, an outer container, an inner receptacle for water having double walled bottom, sides and ends with an ice compartment within, means to support a block of ice within said ice compartment, and side and end plates loosely supported in the angle portions of the ice compartment between the bottom, side and end walls of the ice receptacle, and being tilted inwardly and resting upon the block of ice.

SIDNEY W. FRECHOU.

may be done without removing thecover 12.

By removing the cover 12, however, access is 

